Submit New Case

Counsel may electronically submit case-initiating documents for petitions for review, petitions for enforcement of an agency order, petitions for writ of mandamus, petitions for permission to appeal and motions for authorization to file a successive §2254 or §2255 petition. Filers remain responsible for service of case-initiating documents.

If a fee is required, it may be paid by credit card when the documents are submitted. A filing fee is not required for Motions for Authorization to File Successive Applications Under 28 U.S.C. §2244, Petition for Permission to Appeal under FRAP Rule 5 or for a case in which the appellant will be filing an Application to Proceed In Forma Pauperis. Use the "Submit New Case Without Fee" option to submit these cases to the court.

If your submission is an emergency matter or you are seeking immediate relief, please contact the clerk's office at 804-916-2700 to ensure your matter is handled expeditiously.

Case-Intiating Document Submission Instructions

Select Submit New Case with Fee or Submit New Case without Fee, as appropriate.

The Submit New Case window will appear.

Read the instructional text.

Select Browse.

The Select PDF document dialog box will appear.

Locate and select the the PDF file containing the case-initiating document(s).

Select Open.

The file path will appear in the Document text box.

Enter a description of the document.

If you have additional related documents to upload, select Add Another Document. You must upload a certificate of service reflecting service on opposing counsel other than through CM/ECF, since the "Submit New Case" utility does not effect service.

Once all documents have been uploaded, select Pay Now and Submit OR if you selected Submit New Case without Fee, select Submit and skip the remaining steps. NOTE: If your pop-up blockers are turned on, the next screen will not appear. You will have to cancel and start over once you have turned off your browser pop-up blockers.